Allen West was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia in the same neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once preached. He is the third of four generations of military servicemen in his family.
During his 22 year career in the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel West served in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was a Battalion Commander in the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and later in Afghanistan. He received many honors including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals and a Valorous Unit Award. In 1993 he was named the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year.
After his retirement from the Army in 2004, Allen taught high school for a year before returning to Afghanistan as a civilian military adviser to the Afghan army, an assignment he finished in November 2007.
In November of 2010, Allen was honored to continue his oath of service to his country when he was elected to the United States Congress, representing Florida’s 22nd District. As a member of the 112th Congress, he sat on the Small Business and Armed Services Committees and was instrumental in passage of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
He is also a Fox News Contributor, a Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, and regularly writes for numerous media outlets.
Allen is an avid distance runner, a Master SCUBA diver and motorcyclist. His wife, Angela, holds an MBA and Ph.D. and is a financial planner. His older daughter Aubrey has completed her Master’s degree at SMU and is currently in Physician Assistant school in West Virginia. His youngest daughter Austen is a college junior in South Florida, enrolled in ROTC.
During his 22 year career in the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel West served in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was a Battalion Commander in the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and later in Afghanistan. He received many honors including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals and a Valorous Unit Award. In 1993 he was named the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year.
After his retirement from the Army in 2004, Allen taught high school for a year before returning to Afghanistan as a civilian military adviser to the Afghan army, an assignment he finished in November 2007.
In November of 2010, Allen was honored to continue his oath of service to his country when he was elected to the United States Congress, representing Florida’s 22nd District. As a member of the 112th Congress, he sat on the Small Business and Armed Services Committees and was instrumental in passage of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
He is also a Fox News Contributor, a Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, and regularly writes for numerous media outlets.
Allen is an avid distance runner, a Master SCUBA diver and motorcyclist. His wife, Angela, holds an MBA and Ph.D. and is a financial planner. His older daughter Aubrey has completed her Master’s degree at SMU and is currently in Physician Assistant school in West Virginia. His youngest daughter Austen is a college junior in South Florida, enrolled in ROTC.
Craig Vincent Mitchell, PhD is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) where he also serves as director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement. In addition, Dr. Mitchell is also a Research Fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Mitchell also serves as a part-time lecturer in economics at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Dr. Mitchell has completed seven degrees. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic engineering technology/ mathematics from Savannah State University and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. In addition, Dr. Mitchell holds master’s degrees in engineering management and information systems, both from West Coast University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern. In 2011 he completed a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Mitchell holds a PhD in Christian ethics and philosophy of religion from Southwestern and is the author of two books: Charts of Christian Ethics and Charts of Philosophy and Philosophers, both published by Zondervan.
Dr. Mitchell has completed seven degrees. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic engineering technology/ mathematics from Savannah State University and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. In addition, Dr. Mitchell holds master’s degrees in engineering management and information systems, both from West Coast University, and a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern. In 2011 he completed a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Mitchell holds a PhD in Christian ethics and philosophy of religion from Southwestern and is the author of two books: Charts of Christian Ethics and Charts of Philosophy and Philosophers, both published by Zondervan.
ANN HETTINGER was called to ministry in a time when few women committed to full-time Christian service. In college and as a young married woman, she served a variety of churches in administrative roles. When her husband’s profession relocated them to the northern U.S., Hettinger served as a church secretary to a medium-sized church, where she was the only full-time staff member. “The daily run of activities initiated at my desk, and God was my very present help in every moment of that journey,” Hettinger recounted. When her husband’s job relocated them to the Northwest, she served a small church as education assistant for seven years teaching children. And when they later moved to Texas, God provided service opportunities in a large church. Believing Scripture is definitive concerning the male-only pastoral role, Hettinger said there are so many tasks women may fill that she cannot imagine “a woman not being able to match up her gift with some need.”
“For over 30 years, God trained, moved, provided over and over again in my life to take all of these experiences and use them for the last 22 years serving families in public policy influence,” said Hettinger, who currently serves as the state director for Concerned Women for America.
Hettinger believes the scriptural instructions related to pastoral roles in church do not apply to women serving in government roles.
“Indeed, the Scripture is replete with examples of women who bear strong governmental responsibilities,” she said, pointing to Deborah in the Old Testament. “In my view, women bring to the public policy arena experience as unique and necessary as men bring. There is no governmental task that does not involve both genders’ consideration in the same way that we need multi-generational and multi-ethnic considerations.”
“For over 30 years, God trained, moved, provided over and over again in my life to take all of these experiences and use them for the last 22 years serving families in public policy influence,” said Hettinger, who currently serves as the state director for Concerned Women for America.
Hettinger believes the scriptural instructions related to pastoral roles in church do not apply to women serving in government roles.
“Indeed, the Scripture is replete with examples of women who bear strong governmental responsibilities,” she said, pointing to Deborah in the Old Testament. “In my view, women bring to the public policy arena experience as unique and necessary as men bring. There is no governmental task that does not involve both genders’ consideration in the same way that we need multi-generational and multi-ethnic considerations.”
Dr. Marius Meintjes is board certified as a High Complexity Laboratory Director, a Human Embryology Laboratory Director, a Technical Supervisor, and a Clinical Consultant through the American Board of Bioanalysts. Currently, he is one of 3 embryologists in the United States that are also certified as a Senior Clinical Embryologist by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. He has served as the Program Director and Scientific Director for the ARTS programs at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, and Harris Methodist Hospital. Today, Dr. Meintjes serves as an advisor for numerous national and international fertility companies. IVF laboratories under his direction consistently rate among some of the best in the United States. Dr. Meintjes is frequently featured as a national and international speaker on IVF laboratory excellence and design, as well as on various aspects of the optimization of assisted reproduction procedures and outcomes. He has published many book chapters and papers on these topics in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Growing up on a rural farm in Africa, Dr. Meintjes decided to pursue an education during his college years and completed a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Medical degree, and Ph.D. During this time, Dr. Meintjes had many firsts in the burgeoning field of assisted reproductive technology, which began with treatments of animals. Dr. Meintjes completed his Doctorate degree in reproductive physiology and embryo biotechnology at Louisiana State University (LSU) under the tutelage of the renowned Dr. Robert A. Godke, who trained many reproductive physiologists, embryologists, reproductive scientists, and laboratory directors in the field of human infertility. While at LSU, Dr. Meintjes participated in developing numerous innovative techniques in assisted reproduction and embryo biotechnology, which assists in bringing some of the best treatments to infertility patients. After graduation, Dr. Meintjes functioned in various capacities at fertility centers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Growing up on a rural farm in Africa, Dr. Meintjes decided to pursue an education during his college years and completed a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Medical degree, and Ph.D. During this time, Dr. Meintjes had many firsts in the burgeoning field of assisted reproductive technology, which began with treatments of animals. Dr. Meintjes completed his Doctorate degree in reproductive physiology and embryo biotechnology at Louisiana State University (LSU) under the tutelage of the renowned Dr. Robert A. Godke, who trained many reproductive physiologists, embryologists, reproductive scientists, and laboratory directors in the field of human infertility. While at LSU, Dr. Meintjes participated in developing numerous innovative techniques in assisted reproduction and embryo biotechnology, which assists in bringing some of the best treatments to infertility patients. After graduation, Dr. Meintjes functioned in various capacities at fertility centers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.